AFFIRMANCE-DAY, GENERAL. In the English Court of Exchequer, is a day
appointed by the judges of the common pleas, and barons of the exchequer, to
be held a few days after the beginning of every term for the general
affirmance or reversal of judgments. 2 Tidd. 1091.

DAMAGES, GENERAL, torts. General damages are such as the law implies to have
accrued from the act of a tort-feasor. To call a man a thief, or commit an
assault and battery upon his person, are examples of this kind. In the first
case the law presumes that calling a man a thief must be injurious to him,
with showing that it is so. Sir W. Jones, 196; 1 Saund. 243, b. n. 5; and in
the latter case, the law implies that his person has been more or less
deteriorated, and that the injured party is not required to specify what
injury he has sustained, nor to prove it. Ham. N. P. 40; 1 Chit. Pl. 386; 2
L.R. 76; 4 Bouv. Inst. n. 3584.

GENERAL. This word has several meanings, namely: 1. A principal officer,
particularly in the army. 2. Something opposed to special; as, a general
verdict, the general issue, which expressions are used in contradistinction
to special verdict, special issue. 3. Principal, as the general post office.
4. Not select, as a general ship. (q. v.) 5. Not particular, as a general
custom. 6. Not limited, as general jurisdiction. 7. This word is sometimes
annexed or prefixed to other words to express or limit the extent of their
signification; as Attorney General, Solicitor General, the General Assembly,
&c.

HEIR, GENERAL. Heir at common in the English law. The heir at common law is
he who, after his father or ancestor's death has a right to, and is
introduced into all his lands, tenements and hereditaments. He must be of
the whole blood, not a bastard, alien, &c. Bac. Abr. Heir, B 2; Coparceners;
Descent.

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